Zimbabwe's second largest city, Bulawayo, has been hit by an employee strike with workers demanding the immediate payment of outstanding salaries and allowances.

Now in its third day, the strike has paralyzed service delivery, including refuse collection, grave digging, and the fixing of burst sewer pipes - all in the face of the on-going Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in the City of Kings.

City fathers were Wednesday night forced to call a meeting with the striking employees to discuss their grievances.

The employees want the cash-strapped council to pay them outstanding salaries and allowances going back three months.

Moses Mahlangu, secretary general of the Zimbabwe Urban Council Workers’ Union, told VOA reporter Sithandekile Mhlanga workers will only resume their duties if meetings with the local authority yield positive results.